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|By Marketwired .||
|January 28, 2013 08:01 AM EST||
SUNNYVALE, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 01/28/13 -- RGB Networks, the leading provider of scalable multiscreen IP video delivery solutions, today announced that MegaFon, Russia's second largest mobile operator, has selected and deployed RGB's award-winning Video Multiprocessing Gateway (VMG) and TransAct Packager to provide a complete transcoding and packaging solution for its new over-the-top (OTT) video service.
MegaFon launched its OTT service in December 2012 with compelling interactive capabilities to not only respond to the substantial rise in mobile internet users nationwide, but also to retain and increase its 61.6 million subscribers, which represent a market share of 27.1 percent of Russia's mobile users. This digital TV product was created and is being developed by MegaLabs, a MegaFon innovation arm aimed at launching and monetizing new products and technologies to serve MegaFon subscribers.
"With our rapidly expanding subscriber base we needed the most flexible and reliable IP video delivery solution available to keep pace with customer demands and need for quality," said Vitaly Starodubov, COO at MegaLabs. "MegaFon's entry into the OTT marketplace significantly enhances our competitive position amidst the 'Big Three' of the Russian TV service market, and we hope to secure more than 1.5 million IPTV\OTT subscribers across all devices by 2015. OTT services are essential to the future of video delivery in Russia, and we needed a solution that could ensure our vision comes to fruition. RGB's technology perfectly meets our needs and adds value to our long-term business strategy."
The implementation was delivered through a key RGB partner and system integrator, the BCC Group.
"We received excellent support from both RGB Networks and its partner BCC, who provided us with exceptional service throughout the entire deployment process to ensure that the solution was up and running in record time," continued MegaLabs' Starodubov.
The VMG's scalable and reliable multi-stream processing capability represents a sound investment for future-proofing of services and met MegaFon's requirements to initially facilitate the delivery of high-quality content to iOS devices and IP set-top boxes, with support for Android devices planned for later. With its high performance transcoding capabilities, the carrier-class VMG works in tandem with the critical adaptive streaming functionalities of RGB's TransAct Packager, enabling MegaFon to seamlessly deliver OTT services to a growing selection of popular end user mobile devices without concerns for supporting growth in channels, resolutions, profiles or device types.
"We are very pleased to have helped one of Russia's largest and internationally acclaimed operators enter the OTT marketplace," said Ramin Farassat, Vice President, Product Marketing and Business Development for RGB Networks. "Known for being technically advanced, selection by MegaFon is a testament to our products' next-generation capabilities. We are delighted to play a part in enabling forward-thinking customers, such as MegaFon, expand their customer reach and ultimately improve their bottom line."
MegaFon is a Russian universal telecommunication service provider. Established in May 2002, MegaFon became the first operator with a network covering all regions of Russia. The Company and its subsidiaries have licenses to operate in all of the Russian regions and in the Republics of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Tajikistan. With over 64 million active subscribers, MegaFon manages the most sophisticated and technologically advanced digital and fixed line network in the country.
MegaFon was the first in Russia to launch 3G for commercial operations and is currently in the number one position among all operators in the provision of mobile Internet, and in the number two position as to the number of active subscribers in Russia. In 2012, MegaFon became one of the first operators to launch a 4G network in the LTE standard in Russia.
MegaFon is an active sports sponsor and is the Mobile General Partner of the XXII Winter Olympic Games and XI Paralympic Games to be held in Sochi in 2014.
MegaLabs is a wholly owned subsidiary of MegaFon, and its principal objective is to research, develop and bring to market innovative value-added services for MegaFon clients. MegaLabs is a centre for innovative developments and quick-to-market launch of value-added services in the areas of content and media, mobile finance, mobile advertising, M2M services and cloud services.
BCC is a top Russian system integrator with more than a 1000 employees and annual revenue exceeding half a billion US dollars. BCC is headquartered in St.Petersburg with offices in Moscow, Krasnodar, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk and representative offices in CIS countries. The company's business is diversified and includes telecommunications, infrastructure, construction and consulting. BCC is one of the pioneers of interactive television in Russia. In 2004 BCC was first to launch the biggest country-wide IPTV project. First commercial Network PVR services were also implemented by BCC. Today the company develops its own software products as well as integrates best-in-class vendors' products to provide end-to-end solutions for telecom operators and content providers.
For more information, please visit our websites -- www.bcc.ru, www.mediastage.tv.
About RGB Networks
RGB Networks enables video service providers to migrate to a multiscreen environment for the delivery of linear and on-demand video over managed and unmanaged IP networks. Wide adoption of the company's IP video solutions is based on core strengths in transcoding, advertising and overlay insertion, and statistical multiplexing. RGB's solutions for video delivery to TVs, desktop and mobile devices are built to deliver the highest video quality at the best price-performance on the market -- they uniquely offer the density and scalability required to support the growing demands of consumers with integrated functionality that simplifies operators' network architectures and minimises operational costs. RGB's products are deployed by over 400 cable, telco, satellite, OTT and mobile operators in 40+ countries. Venture capital investment firms include Accel Partners, Comcast Interactive, Focus Ventures, Granite Ventures, Institutional Venture Partners, Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, and Mitsui & Co. Venture Partners. RGB is a private, profitable company based in Sunnyvale, California with offices around the world. For more information, please visit our website -- www.rgbnetworks.com -- and IP video blog -- www.rgbnetworks.com/blog -- and follow us on Twitter @RGB_Networks.
In his general session at 18th Cloud Expo, Lee Atchison, Principal Cloud Architect and Advocate at New Relic, discussed cloud as a ‘better data center’ and how it adds new capacity (faster) and improves application availability (redundancy). The cloud is a ‘Dynamic Tool for Dynamic Apps’ and resource allocation is an integral part of your application architecture, so use only the resources you need and allocate /de-allocate resources on the fly.
Sep. 30, 2016 12:45 AM EDT Reads: 2,965
Fifty billion connected devices and still no winning protocols standards. HTTP, WebSockets, MQTT, and CoAP seem to be leading in the IoT protocol race at the moment but many more protocols are getting introduced on a regular basis. Each protocol has its pros and cons depending on the nature of the communications. Does there really need to be only one protocol to rule them all? Of course not. In his session at @ThingsExpo, Chris Matthieu, co-founder and CTO of Octoblu, walk you through how Oct...
Sep. 30, 2016 12:00 AM EDT Reads: 2,370
IoT is fundamentally transforming the auto industry, turning the vehicle into a hub for connected services, including safety, infotainment and usage-based insurance. Auto manufacturers – and businesses across all verticals – have built an entire ecosystem around the Connected Car, creating new customer touch points and revenue streams. In his session at @ThingsExpo, Macario Namie, Head of IoT Strategy at Cisco Jasper, will share real-world examples of how IoT transforms the car from a static p...
Sep. 30, 2016 12:00 AM EDT Reads: 1,669
Web Real-Time Communication APIs have quickly revolutionized what browsers are capable of. In addition to video and audio streams, we can now bi-directionally send arbitrary data over WebRTC's PeerConnection Data Channels. With the advent of Progressive Web Apps and new hardware APIs such as WebBluetooh and WebUSB, we can finally enable users to stitch together the Internet of Things directly from their browsers while communicating privately and securely in a decentralized way.
Sep. 29, 2016 11:30 PM EDT Reads: 1,203
"My role is working with customers, helping them go through this digital transformation. I spend a lot of time talking to banks, big industries, manufacturers working through how they are integrating and transforming their IT platforms and moving them forward," explained William Morrish, General Manager Product Sales at Interoute, in this SYS-CON.tv interview at 18th Cloud Expo, held June 7-9, 2016, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY.
Sep. 29, 2016 10:30 PM EDT Reads: 4,042
The Internet of Things can drive efficiency for airlines and airports. In their session at @ThingsExpo, Shyam Varan Nath, Principal Architect with GE, and Sudip Majumder, senior director of development at Oracle, will discuss the technical details of the connected airline baggage and related social media solutions. These IoT applications will enhance travelers' journey experience and drive efficiency for the airlines and the airports. The session will include a working demo and a technical d...
Sep. 29, 2016 10:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,809
Why do your mobile transformations need to happen today? Mobile is the strategy that enterprise transformation centers on to drive customer engagement. In his general session at @ThingsExpo, Roger Woods, Director, Mobile Product & Strategy – Adobe Marketing Cloud, covered key IoT and mobile trends that are forcing mobile transformation, key components of a solid mobile strategy and explored how brands are effectively driving mobile change throughout the enterprise.
Sep. 29, 2016 08:45 PM EDT Reads: 2,218
Developing software for the Internet of Things (IoT) comes with its own set of challenges. Security, privacy, and unified standards are a few key issues. In addition, each IoT product is comprised of (at least) three separate application components: the software embedded in the device, the back-end service, and the mobile application for the end user’s controls. Each component is developed by a different team, using different technologies and practices, and deployed to a different stack/target –...
Sep. 29, 2016 08:45 PM EDT Reads: 1,550
Identity is in everything and customers are looking to their providers to ensure the security of their identities, transactions and data. With the increased reliance on cloud-based services, service providers must build security and trust into their offerings, adding value to customers and improving the user experience. Making identity, security and privacy easy for customers provides a unique advantage over the competition.
Sep. 29, 2016 06:15 PM EDT Reads: 3,700
SYS-CON Events announced today that Commvault, a global leader in enterprise data protection and information management, has been named “Bronze Sponsor” of SYS-CON's 19th International Cloud Expo, which will take place on November 1–3, 2016, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. Commvault is a leading provider of data protection and information management solutions, helping companies worldwide activate their data to drive more value and business insight and to transform moder...
Sep. 29, 2016 05:15 PM EDT Reads: 2,859
Personalization has long been the holy grail of marketing. Simply stated, communicate the most relevant offer to the right person and you will increase sales. To achieve this, you must understand the individual. Consequently, digital marketers developed many ways to gather and leverage customer information to deliver targeted experiences. In his session at @ThingsExpo, Lou Casal, Founder and Principal Consultant at Practicala, discussed how the Internet of Things (IoT) has accelerated our abil...
Sep. 29, 2016 04:45 PM EDT Reads: 2,802
SYS-CON Events has announced today that Roger Strukhoff has been named conference chair of Cloud Expo and @ThingsExpo 2016 Silicon Valley. The 19th Cloud Expo and 6th @ThingsExpo will take place on November 1-3, 2016, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. "The Internet of Things brings trillions of dollars of opportunity to developers and enterprise IT, no matter how you measure it," stated Roger Strukhoff. "More importantly, it leverages the power of devices and the Interne...
Sep. 29, 2016 04:45 PM EDT Reads: 3,458
Digital innovation is the next big wave of business transformation based on digital technologies of which IoT and Big Data are key components, For example: Business boundary innovation is a challenge to excavate third-party business value using IoT and BigData, like Nest Business structure innovation may propose re-building business structure from scratch, as Uber does in the taxicab industry The social model innovation is also a big challenge to the new social architecture with the design fr...
Sep. 29, 2016 04:30 PM EDT Reads: 1,351
So, you bought into the current machine learning craze and went on to collect millions/billions of records from this promising new data source. Now, what do you do with them? Too often, the abundance of data quickly turns into an abundance of problems. How do you extract that "magic essence" from your data without falling into the common pitfalls? In her session at @ThingsExpo, Natalia Ponomareva, Software Engineer at Google, provided tips on how to be successful in large scale machine learning...
Sep. 29, 2016 04:00 PM EDT Reads: 2,413
If you had a chance to enter on the ground level of the largest e-commerce market in the world – would you? China is the world’s most populated country with the second largest economy and the world’s fastest growing market. It is estimated that by 2018 the Chinese market will be reaching over $30 billion in gaming revenue alone. Admittedly for a foreign company, doing business in China can be challenging. Often changing laws, administrative regulations and the often inscrutable Chinese Interne...
Sep. 29, 2016 04:00 PM EDT Reads: 489
In his session at @ThingsExpo, Kausik Sridharabalan, founder and CTO of Pulzze Systems, Inc., will focus on key challenges in building an Internet of Things solution infrastructure. He will shed light on efficient ways of defining interactions within IoT solutions, leading to cost and time reduction. He will also introduce ways to handle data and how one can develop IoT solutions that are lean, flexible and configurable, thus making IoT infrastructure agile and scalable.
Sep. 29, 2016 03:30 PM EDT Reads: 1,631
Data is an unusual currency; it is not restricted by the same transactional limitations as money or people. In fact, the more that you leverage your data across multiple business use cases, the more valuable it becomes to the organization. And the same can be said about the organization’s analytics. In his session at 19th Cloud Expo, Bill Schmarzo, CTO for the Big Data Practice at EMC, will introduce a methodology for capturing, enriching and sharing data (and analytics) across the organizati...
Sep. 29, 2016 03:15 PM EDT Reads: 1,800
SYS-CON Events announced today that Bsquare has been named “Silver Sponsor” of SYS-CON's @ThingsExpo, which will take place on November 1–3, 2016, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. For more than two decades, Bsquare has helped its customers extract business value from a broad array of physical assets by making them intelligent, connecting them, and using the data they generate to optimize business processes.
Sep. 29, 2016 03:00 PM EDT Reads: 2,981
Internet of @ThingsExpo has announced today that Chris Matthieu has been named tech chair of Internet of @ThingsExpo 2016 Silicon Valley. The 6thInternet of @ThingsExpo will take place on November 1–3, 2016, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA.
Sep. 29, 2016 03:00 PM EDT Reads: 2,840
A strange thing is happening along the way to the Internet of Things, namely far too many devices to work with and manage. It has become clear that we'll need much higher efficiency user experiences that can allow us to more easily and scalably work with the thousands of devices that will soon be in each of our lives. Enter the conversational interface revolution, combining bots we can literally talk with, gesture to, and even direct with our thoughts, with embedded artificial intelligence, wh...
Sep. 29, 2016 02:00 PM EDT Reads: 3,966


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Trade union Verdi has called on employees at six Amazon locations in Germany to strike for 48 hours amid an ongoing wage dispute.
The strike is part of Verdi's push to conclude negotiations with the online retail giant for a collective bargaining agreement for "good and healthy work."
"We are stepping up the pace because Amazon is not showing to this point any insight and is endangering the health of employees in favor of profit," said Orhan Akman, responsible for the retail and mail-order industries at the union.
Akman referenced recent coronavirus outbreaks of "at least 30 or 40 colleagues" at Amazon distribution centers in Bad Hersfeld, a town in central Germany. Amazon has denied the outbreaks took place.
The strikes will take place at two Amazon locations in Bad Hersfeld, as well as in Leipzig, Rheinberg, Werne and Koblenz. The strike will begin during the night shift on Monday and last 48 hours.
Verdi and Amazon have been in a wage dispute since 2013. The union is seeking a collective bargaining agreement for employees at German distribution centers that aligns with the retail and mail-order industries.
Amazon has rejected such demands, insisting it is a "fair and responsible employer" even without collective bargaining and the wages it pays are at the upper end of the retail and mail-order business.
"What the union describes as an objective has long been a reality for Amazon employees: Wages at the upper end of what is paid for comparable activities, development opportunities for many people and, above all, a safe working environment," a spokesman told the Reuters news agency.
The company said that, since February, it has ordered 470 million units of hand disinfectant, 21 million pairs of gloves, 19 million masks, face shields or other mouth and nose protection and 39 million packs of disinfectant in Germany alone.
In April, Amazon was forced to close six distribution centers in France after a court ruled the retail giant wasn't doing enough to protect employees.
Amazon has 13,000 permanent employees in Germany that work at 13 logistic centers, as well as seasonal workers.
dv/dr (AFP, Reuters)

domain: news


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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Engineered Support Systems Inc. EASI, +0.06% said Thursday after the closing bell that it plans to buy Mobilized Systems in an all-cash deal, which involves the purchase of Mobilized outstanding equity. The purchase will immediately add to Engineered Support's earnings, the company said.
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FCA Hints At Investment In Ontario Plant To Produce Plug-Ins
Undisclosed new FCA plug-ins will be produced in Canada.
According to the latest media reports, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is going to invest between $1.35 billion and $1.5 billion CAD ($1-$1.14 billion USD) in its Windsor assembly plant in Ontario, Canada.
A tentative deal with Canadian autoworkers includes the production of new plug-in hybrid “and/or” all-electric cars at the site, starting around 2024, as well as new/current conventional models.
It’s expected that the plant will continue to produce the Chrysler Pacifica and Voyager minivans and Grand Caravan.
As a result, some 2,000 new jobs might be added to the plant, previously affected by the layoffs.
“Work at the plant would begin in 2023 with a 38-week ramp-up, according to Dias, with the first production vehicles rolling off the line in 2024. He said it was “too soon” to know what vehicles FCA will assemble on the new platform, though he said it will be able to build “multiple vehicles” including cars, crossovers and pickups, depending on consumer demand.”
Separately, at the Brampton plant in Ontario, the company will introduce three derivatives of the Dodge Charger and Challenger and to extend the life of the aging Chrysler 300.
Reuters, Automotive News
Source: Read Full Article


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Unveiling the Shield: Nurturing the Guardians of the Digital Realm
Title: Understanding Supply Chain Attacks: Unveiling Recent Threat Intelligence
In today’s digital landscape, cyber threats have become increasingly sophisticated, resulting in potentially devastating consequences for organizations worldwide. Among the most intricate and pernicious forms of cyberattacks is the supply chain attack. This insidious tactic is designed to target organizations indirectly by compromising their trusted third-party suppliers or vendors. Recent threat intelligence indicates a rise in supply chain attacks, posing significant risks to businesses of all sizes. This article aims to shed light on this growing concern and explore notable examples of supply chain attacks.
Explaining Supply Chain Attacks:
Supply chain attacks involve exploiting weaknesses or vulnerabilities in the interconnected network of vendors, contractors, and suppliers a company relies upon. Instead of directly attacking a targeted organization’s infrastructure, cybercriminals infiltrate and compromise these trusted third parties, exploiting the trust between organizations and their supply chain. By compromising a single trusted entity, attackers can potentially gain unauthorized access to multiple interconnected systems, thereby maximizing the damage inflicted.
The Growing Threat Landscape:
Recent years have witnessed a surge in the number and sophistication of supply chain attacks. This trend can be attributed to several factors, including the increasing dependence on third parties, the globalization of supply chains, and the ever-expanding attack surface provided by interconnected networks. Furthermore, hackers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, employing advanced techniques such as malware injections, software backdoors, or even physical tampering to compromise supply chains.
Notable Supply Chain Attacks:
1. SolarWinds: The 2020 SolarWinds attack stands as one of the most consequential supply chain attacks in recent memory. Cybercriminals targeted the technology company SolarWinds, inserting malicious code into its software updates. This resulted in an undisclosed number of SolarWinds’ clients inadvertently installing malware, granting attackers unauthorized access to their networks. The incident compromised numerous government agencies, tech firms, and critical infrastructure providers.
2. Kaseya: In July 2021, another high-profile supply chain attack occurred when cybercriminals exploited a vulnerability in the Kaseya software. By compromising its remote management tool, attackers deployed ransomware to thousands of organizations worldwide via managed service providers (MSPs) that utilized Kaseya’s platform. The incident disrupted businesses globally and highlighted the vulnerability of interconnected supply chains.
Key Takeaways and Recommendation:
Supply chain attacks pose significant risks to organizations, as they exploit trusted relationships and can have cascading effects throughout the interconnected network. To strengthen their resilience against these threats, companies should consider the following steps:
1. Assess and monitor third-party vendors: Regularly evaluate the security practices and controls of all suppliers and vendors, ensuring they align with your organization’s cybersecurity standards.
2. Implement robust security measures: Employ multi-factor authentication, network segmentation, and encryption to protect critical assets and secure sensitive information.
3. Continuous threat monitoring: Utilize threat intelligence platforms and partner with cybersecurity experts to proactively identify and mitigate potential risks within the supply chain.
4. Establish incident response plans: Develop detailed response plans that outline steps to be taken in the event of a supply chain compromise. Conduct regular drills to ensure preparedness.
Supply chain attacks are evolving threats that demand heightened awareness and proactive cybersecurity measures. Recent incidents like the SolarWinds and Kaseya attacks illustrate the severity and potential consequences of such breaches. By implementing robust security measures, continuously monitoring the supply chain, and establishing incident response plans, organizations can enhance their cybersecurity posture and mitigate the risks posed by supply chain attacks.
Q: What is cybersecurity and why is it important?
A: Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting computers, servers, networks, and data from unauthorized access or damage. It is important because it ensures the safety and integrity of our digital world, preventing cyber threats from infiltrating our personal information, financial systems, and even essential infrastructure.
Q: How do cyber threats pose a risk to individuals and organizations?
A: Cyber threats can range from hackers gaining unauthorized access to personal accounts and stealing sensitive information to ransomware attacks that can encrypt an organization’s data and demand a hefty ransom for its release. These threats not only compromise personal privacy but also disrupt business operations, causing significant financial losses and reputational damage.
Q: Who are the main perpetrators of cyber threats?
A: Cyber threats can come from a variety of sources, including organized criminal networks, state-sponsored attacks, and even disgruntled individuals. These perpetrators can operate from anywhere in the world, leveraging sophisticated techniques and tools to breach security measures.
Q: What are some common cybersecurity measures individuals can take to protect themselves?
A: Individuals can protect themselves by regularly updating their devices and software, using strong, unique passwords, and being cautious when clicking on suspicious links or downloading files from unknown sources. Additionally, enabling two-factor authentication and using a reputable antivirus software can add an extra layer of security.
Q: How can organizations strengthen their cybersecurity defenses?
A: Organizations should implement robust firewall and intrusion detection systems, conduct regular security audits, educate employees about safe computing practices, and create a response plan for cyber incidents. Regularly backing up critical data and securing it offline can minimize the impact of ransomware attacks and other potential data breaches.
Q: What role does encryption play in cybersecurity?
A: Encryption plays a crucial role in cybersecurity by transforming sensitive data into a coded format that can only be deciphered using a decryption key. It ensures that even if an attacker gains access to the data, they will not be able to understand or utilize it, providing an additional layer of protection.
Q: How is artificial intelligence utilized in enhancing cybersecurity?
A: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in cybersecurity to identify patterns and anomalies in network traffic, helping to detect and mitigate potential threats in real-time. AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data and quickly identify suspicious activities that may go unnoticed by human analysts, enabling a proactive defense against cyber attacks.
Q: Are there any emerging cybersecurity trends we should be aware of?
A: Yes, there are several emerging cybersecurity trends to watch out for. These include the rise of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and the security risks they pose, the increasing sophistication of ransomware attacks, the adoption of blockchain technology to strengthen data security, and the growing demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals to counter these evolving threats.
Q: Where can individuals and organizations seek help in improving their cybersecurity posture?
A: Individuals and organizations can seek help from cybersecurity experts, consulting firms, or Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) who specialize in providing tailored solutions to address their specific challenges. Public-private partnerships and government initiatives also offer resources, training, and guidance on cybersecurity best practices.
As we weave through the intricate and ever-evolving web of the digital world, one truth becomes abundantly clear: cybersecurity is paramount. In this era of interconnectedness, where our lives are entwined with technology, safeguarding our digital domain becomes a true necessity. The threats looming on the virtual horizon are cunning and relentless, testing our resilience and demanding us to rise to the challenge.
However, in this quest to fortify our digital existence, we find ourselves at an intersecting point of innovation and caution. The marvels of technology continue to astound us, reshaping the world with their boundless potential. Yet, with every stride forward, we must remember that as we forge new digital frontiers, the realm of cyber threats evolves in relentless pursuit.
But fret not, for the guardians of this digital realm are no less formidable. Their days are grueling, their nights sleepless, as they tirelessly defend our virtual sanctuary against the malevolent forces that lurk in the depths of the internet. Equipped with advanced knowledge and cutting-edge tools, these cyber warriors remain steadfast, ready to thwart any attempt to breach our digital defenses.
Yet, it is not solely the responsibility of these digital sentinels to bear the burdens of cybersecurity. It is an endeavor that requires the collective efforts of governments, organizations, and individuals alike. Awareness and education serve as the foundations upon which a resilient digital ecosystem can thrive. By understanding the threats we face and acquiring the necessary skills to navigate safely, we empower ourselves to become guardians of our own digital domains.
As we embark on the journey to safeguard the digital world, let us embrace the challenges it brings, knowing that resilience blooms in the face of adversity. Let us cultivate a culture that embraces cyber hygiene, where we constantly question, deliberate, and adapt to the ever-changing digital landscape. And let us forge bonds, bridging the gaps between disciplines, nations, and generations, to build a united front against the encroaching darkness.
The digital world holds immense promise and possibility, a realm where innovation knows no bounds. It is our collective duty to ensure that it remains a sanctuary for all who traverse its vast expanses. So, let us march forth, hand in hand, with our heads held high, knowing that safeguarding this digital world is not merely a duty, but an opportunity to protect, inspire, and shape the future, one line of code at a time.


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What could be the ultimate addition to the ultimate driving simulator? What is arguably one of the ultimate racing cars of the moment would be a good start: Lewis Hamilton’s 2017 championship-winning F1 car, the Mercedes AMG F1 W08 EQ Power+.
Well, you can now channel your inner F1 World Champion courtesy of the July update to Gran Turismo Sport – which also includes screaming rotary-powered Mazda 787B and the singing V12 Ferrari 250 GTO.
The W08 with Hamilton at the wheel won 11 of the 20 Grands Prix in 2017, helping Lewis add his fourth title to his record. The 787B, however, was made famous by a single race in 1991 – the Le Mans 24 hours – marking the first ever win of the world-famous enduro by a Japanese marque. It was only joined when Toyota took their maiden win at La Sarthe earlier this year.
Other quirky additions, the likes of which the franchise has been regularly celebrated in the past, are the Ford GT LM Spec II Test Car, the 2015 Honda S660, the 1991 Honda Beat and the 2002 Daihatsu Copen Active Top. All of these can now be enjoyed on a brand new scenic race track, the Circuit de Sainte-Croix.
An addition we suspect will be less popular in a community on edge about micro-transactions is the ability to buy cars under 2,000,000 credits in the PlayStation Store for real money.
But in all, it’s a worthy update to what is shaping up to be the best instalment of the franchise since Gran Turismo 4 of 2004.
- Lego recreates 007’s Aston Martin DB5
- Gran Turismo gamers, think you’re fast? Prove it, says Nissan
- Gran Turismo Sport cracks open even more cars and a new circuit


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After releasing two albums per year for the past two years, Taylor Swift was named Record Store Day’s first-ever Global Ambassador for 2022.
Aside from moving lots of her own vinyl, Swift has a history of supporting independent record stores.
In past years, Jack White, Dave Grohl, Pearl Jam, St. Vincent, and Run The Jewels have all been appointed ambassadors, but Swift marks the first Global one. She is also the third female RSD ambassador, following St. Vincent and Brandi Carlile, who was 2020’s selection.
In the statement on Record Store Day’s website, Swift said:
I’m very proud to be this year’s Global Ambassador for Record Store Day. The places where we go to browse and explore and discover music new and old have always been sacred to me. Record stores are so important because they help to perpetuate and foster music-loving as a passion. They create settings for live events. They employ people who adore music thoroughly and purely. Those people and shops have had a rough few years and we need to support these small businesses more now than ever to make sure they can stay alive, stay eccentric, and stay individual. It’s been a true joy for me to watch vinyl sales grow in the past few years and we, the artists, have the fans to thank for this pleasant surprise. Happy Record Store Day, everyone! Stay safe out there.
Record Store Day is scheduled to take place on April 23 this year. Due to the pandemic, Record Store Day has been pushed to “Drops” spread across two months.


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The Osun Government has disclosed that no fewer than 200 local governments and 100,000 visitors are expected in the state for the maiden edition of the South-West Local Governments Trade Fair.
As stated, the trade fair would attract investors from all over the world where the produce from the South-West states would be displayed for all and sundry.
The Osun State’s Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Olabode Olaonipekun, who disclosed this while unveiling he Trade Fair Prospectus in Osogbo, noted that the event would hold in Osogbo, from November 16 to Nov. 28.
He said no fewer than 200 exhibitions and 100,000 visitors were also projected to be part of the trade fair, pointing out that the event would be mainly for the showcasing agricultural and mineral resources.
According to him, all the local governments in the South-West will be involved in the trade fair, where they will be able to showcase their mineral and agricultural resources.
He said that the gains of the South-West Economic and Investment Summit held in 2019 needed to be consolidated and that the trade fair would attract investors, industrialists and producers. This, he said, would boost the economy of the South-Western states.
In his remark, Osun Commissioner for Agriculture, Dayo Adewole, said that the trade fair would give a platform for farmers to showcase their agricultural produce.
Adewole stated that the trade fair would be of great benefit to the people of the state, adding that it was not only meant for the state government or ministry of Commerce but for the growth and development of businesses in the state.
Also speaking, the President of Osun Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture (OSUCCIMA), Bisi Makanjuola, said that it has become imperative for the state to organise a trade fair to re-awaken and stimulate business activities in the state and the geo-political zone.
Makanjuola said that the chambers of commerce would be collaborating with Osun government for the success of the trade fair. He said that the event was aimed at bringing to the fore the value chain needed to be identified and developed.
The Management Consultant of the Trade Fair, Owoyemi Olalekan, said that in his address that the event was also expected to attract more than one million online shoppers. Olalekan said that the trade fair themed “Stimulating Value Addition Through Digital Economy for Nigeria’s Sustainable Development” would serve as a veritable platform for businesses, investors and decision makers.
He said that they would be able to connect, network and hold business meetings for the socio-economic development of the state and the region.
He said that the trade fair, also tagged “Aje Lawa” would hold at the Aje International Market in Osogbo, with six days for exhibition of agriculture and mineral resources and 13 days for general business-to-business deals.


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Donuts strike back: Dunkin’s and DumDum’s concept stores signal the resurgence of the sweet treat
In the UK, artisanal donut company DumDum Donnutterie recently announced the opening of its new retail concept at INTU Lakeside shopping center in London, UK.
This past week, Dunkin Donuts in the US also unveiled what the Canton, Massachusetts-based company called its ‘next generation concept store’.
The reports led BakeryandSnacks to question if the deep-fried, sugary snack is back on trend even as consumers prioritise healthier foods.
Indulgence versus resistance
According to Stephen Dutton, senior foodservice analyst at market researcher Euromonitor International, while health and wellness is an importantand constantly evolving consumer trend, foodservice is still an indulgent occasion for many consumers.
“While consumer may be focused on eating healthier, foodservice is still very much an experience in which the consumer feels like they can indulge - perhaps a reward for the hard work of leading better, healthier lives at home,” he told BakeryandSnacks.
“Indulgence is still thriving… and donuts are enjoying international growth currently,” added proprietor and patisserie chef Paul Hurley of DumDum Donnutterie.
“There is a boom in bakery stemming from the current passion for home baking - started by ‘The Great British Bake Off’ - that is huge on social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest.
“As a result, there is [more] awareness of the skill in baking and patisserie… and consumers are more prepared to pay for quality.
“That said, with healthy eating as important as it is, consumers don’t want to eat rubbish. DumDum donuts are popular because of their patented baking process - nothing is deep fried - and their honesty with their ingredients, which are all natural,” said the former exec of Dunkin Donuts UK, who broke away to open DumDum a decade ago.
Today, the independent British baker has three UK outlets and an exclusive arrangement to supply Harrods with patented patisserie-inspired donuts.
The new 39m2 takeaway and 15-seater café in Essex - designed in collaboration with London-based retail design consultants Innovare Design - captures the essence of a traditional European patisserie with a contemporary twist on the American craft donut experience.
Strong graphics express the brand’s story, while illustrated menu boards and product photography clearly present the range. Product is strategically lit and presented on black slate trays.
Elsewhere the use of natural timber reflects the natural ingredients - evident, too, in the new packaging, which is now paper bags and boxes.
Due to the brand’s popularity on Instagram, there are several ‘instagrammable’ quotes painted on walls, such as a quirky Donut Guy illustration that touts Hurley’s brand mission and fun donut puns like ‘Doughs before Bros.’
Dunkin Donuts’ new generation
In a similar design move, US Dunkin Donuts has opened a new 2,200 square foot shop in the city where the company began nearly 70 years ago, featuring “a new, modern atmosphere, integrating technology with design elements, and the chain’s first drive-thru exclusively for mobile ordering.”
Lighter colors, an open layout and natural light create “an approachable, positive and energetic environment”, while a tap system – similar in design to on tap ales serve beverages like nitro infused cold brew coffee, and fully-integrated digital kiosks introduce online ordering.
A mobile app allows delivery both in and outside the restaurant, and consumers can track orders on a new digital order status board.
Following a mandatory trial period, both donut companies are planning to extend the concepts.
Dunkin Donuts said 30 or more new and remodelled restaurants will test variations of the new design this year, while Hurley said DumDum has planned international expansion in Qatar, Dubai and Saudi Arabia.
Dunkin' Donuts has announced it is removing all artificial dyes from its donuts, following its announcement last year to remove artificial colors from all its products by the end of 2018.
“Donuts - in addition to being purely indulgent occasions - can still work in the evolving framework of how the health and wellness trend is applied to foodservice,” added Dutton.
“Successful donut chains may find that communicating how they offer a better experience will be important in remaining relevant to consumers that are more discerning in the food they eat and the concepts they choose to spend on. This is true for consumers in all world markets.”


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This morning, I got the itch to try Gears Tactics. I had heard good things and not managed to check it out during the review period for just, so many reasons. But it’s out now, and getting good marks. It’s a standard AAA release, at $59.99. But I’m a Game Pass Ultimate subscriber, and this is a Microsoft first-party game. That means that I’ve got access to it at launch and forever, or at least so long as the basic fabric of the modern economy can hold. I went over to the Microsoft Store and just sort of downloaded it.
That’s the magic of Game Pass, a service that still feels far too cheap for what you get from it. It’s been Microsoft’s big bet for both the future of Xbox and gaming writ large, and now we’ve got some numbers for how it’s turning out. The company just passed 10 million Game Pass subscribers, a significant milestone that also includes some of the across-the-board growth in gaming that we’ve seen during lockdowns.
Game Pass will be crucial to Xbox’s next-gen plans top to bottom. If we assume that the Xbox Series X will launch with a trial subscription—a fair assumption—that means that literally everyone with a Series X on day one will be able to play Halo Infinite and the rest of Microsoft’s first-party lineup, significantly streamlining the process of getting a new console and buying games for it. And if Microsoft does wind up announcing a second, lower-tier console, Game Pass could combine with lower hardware prices for an attractive budget option.
And then there’s Project xCloud, there on the horizon. A marriage of a fully functional xCloud and Game Pass could be the most powerful combination in gaming.
Much of the economics behind Game Pass are still opaque: 10 million is a lot of subscribers, but we don’t know how much it costs to run in terms of third-party games, first-party development or more. But it’s clearly growing, and there’s plenty of room for it to keep going. The pandemic has driven a lot of new or lapsed players into gaming, and Game Pass offers an easy, relatively cheap answer to a question I’ve been bombarded with for weeks: what should I buy?
According to a blog post from Phil Spencer this morning, Game Pass has also been responsible for a major increase in social engagement and multiplayer gaming. I can speak to that personally: I got 3 friends to buy game pass for Sea of Thieves just last month,
“Xbox Game Pass is empowering players and their friends to branch out and discover new games they might not have played before. We know this because after joining Game Pass people play 40% more games and more than 90% of members have played a game they wouldn’t have tried without Game Pass – often discovering new genres they have not yet experienced,” says Spencer in the post. “This speaks to our passion at Xbox for sharing and celebrating the games that we love and for showcasing works, from blockbusters to indie developers with unique points of view.”
There are major questions about how subscription-based services will change the industry. I’ve seen a lot of people that are optimistic about the impact that they can have on smaller games, and the Netflix-driven world of video streaming offers some hope about what large subscriptions can do for content—I’m not sure anyone would argue that we have less high-quality TV than we did a decade ago. But the hollowed-out world of commercial music offers a cautionary tale, as well: you’re not going to find many musicians with a lot of nice things to say about Spotify. Whatever the future, however, it seems that subscription services are here to stay, and Game Pass has a solid chance at becoming the dominant force in a crowding market.


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Speaking to the gathered worthies of Davos, China’s Vice President Wáng Qíshān 王岐山 today expressed confidence in China’s economy. Reuters reports:
“There will be a lot of uncertainties in 2019, but China’s economy will continue to achieve sustainable growth,” Wang told delegates at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
“Speed does matter. But what really matters is the quality and efficiency of our economic development,” he said.
China does not see its economic expansionary cycle coming to an end, Wang added, seeking to dispel market concerns that faltering domestic demand and bruising U.S. tariffs could spark a major slowdown ahead.
Well, Wang would say that, wouldn’t he? But I’ve recently heard similar views from a number of people who tend not to be wrong. Today’s news brought some other reasons you may want to reconsider joining the growing consensus that China’s economy is headed for gloom and doom:
- Consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble posted quarterly results: There was no slowdown in China. CFO Jon Moeller said that “the company is ‘fairly confident’ about growth in China in the following quarter,” according to CNBC.
- “Yes, China’s 6.6 percent growth in 2018 is its slowest in nearly 3 decades,” tweeted Economist correspondent Simon Rabinovitch. “But given the size of its economy, that represents about $1.2 trillion of additional demand, nearly twice as much as it generated with 14 percent growth in 2007.”
- The government is taking action — from stimulus spending to monetary policies and tax cuts. (Caixin has a roundup of problems with the economy and government measures to tackle them.)
- “Still the world’s best consumer story.” This is what Investment Strategist for Matthews Asia Andy Rothman is still calling China.


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Visa on July 21 changed its retail security requirement structure, which will—because of a change in definition of what a qualifying transaction is—force more retailers to use its more stringent security procedures.
The core change includes all transactions when determining what level a retailer should be; Visa uses four levels to group retailers based on their volume of transactions.
The criteria was previously limited to online purchases. “The most significant modification involves the Level 2 merchant category, which previously only applied to merchants processing between 150,000 and 6 million Visa e-commerce transactions per year,” a Visa statement said. “Level 2 has now been broadened to include all acceptance channels and applies to any merchant processing 1 million to 6 million Visa transactions per year.”
Mark Rasch, a former federal prosecutor who now serves as vice president for Solutionary, a security software and consultancy firm, said that the actions of July 21 may not have an immediate impact on retailers, but they will certainly have a long-term impact as Visa uses this as the first step before cracking down with strict enforcement. As it is, retailers are notorious for not complying with Visas guidelines and not doing enough audits and related checks.
“I would say that this is more evolutionary than revolutionary,” Rasch said. “What theyre doing is theyre tweaking the standards, trying to redefine who the classes of different merchants are and what the obligations of each of those different classes are going to be.”
Rasch questions whether categorizing merchants solely by the number of transactions is the best approach.
“I dont know that thats necessarily the best measure of how sophisticated a merchant you are and how much security youre going to need,” Rasch said. “One of the things you may want to look at is the dollar value of the transactions or the risks of the transactions themselves. If you do a lot of small-dollar-value transactions, you may be more or less risky than a person who does a fewer number of high-dollar transactions.”
Retail technology analysts who discussed the new Visa PCI rules in a Web audiocast late on July 21 agreed that the changes will almost certainly impact a lot more than the thousand or so merchants that Visa said it will impact, as the changes will likely cause all retailers to be more strict about credit card authentication issues.
Retail Center Editor Evan Schuman can be reached at [email protected].
Check out eWEEK.coms for the latest news, views and analysis on technologys impact on retail.


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PETALING JAYA: With extra folks choosing on-line transactions, Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) has collaborated with cost answer suppliers Seize and Mastercard to launch a brand new bank card known as Maybank Seize Mastercard Platinum that permits customers to be rewarded with GrabRewards factors for each spend.
The coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has modified client behaviour that noticed the explosion of e-commerce and on-line transactions within the nation.
Seize, which can also be an e-hailing, transportation, on-line groceries and meals supply supplier, has gained traction through the motion management order (MCO) that began on March 18.
Maybank mentioned that the launch of the brand new card took place at a time when extra Malaysians are going into on-line transactions because of greater adoption of smartphones within the nation. Its group CEO for group monetary companies Datuk John Chong mentioned that the cardboard will faucet on Seize’s intensive ecosystem, Mastercard’s cost innovation and Maybank’s main card franchise.
“We have now leveraged one another’s strengths to carry the most effective providing to each Maybank and Seize prospects, and Malaysians typically who’re digitally engaged, ” he instructed reporters on the digital launch of Maybank Seize Mastercard Platinum card yesterday.
Chong mentioned primarily based on the banks’ information, for the primary 6 months of 2020 alone greater than 100,000 grew to become first-time e-commerce customers.
He mentioned one of many distinctive options of the cardboard is that prospects may apply for the cardboard on-line and get same-day approval with prompt issuance of a digital card upon approval. In accordance with the Mastercard Influence Research for Could 2020 version, Malaysians are growing their on-line actions – 75% are browsing on-line for information and leisure, 50% for meals deliveries and nearly half of these surveyed are procuring on-line.
In the meantime, GrabPay managing director Ooi Huey Tyng mentioned Seize noticed 1.7 occasions improve in GrabPay pockets utilization through the motion management order interval particularly for meals, mart and on-demand supply, and on-line transactions.
“Undoubtedly, the pandemic has modified our day-to-day actions and client spending behaviour. Latest research of client spending behaviour by Mastercard point out that nearly 50% of respondents are choosing cashless funds to fulfill their on a regular basis wants.
“Actually, new retailers becoming a member of the Seize platform have doubled throughout this era, and so they noticed a median of 25% improve in on-line income since becoming a member of our platform, ” she mentioned.


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See those stories and more in our daily news roundup.
- Victoire de Castellane took a break from her day job as Dior's fine-jewelry designer to create a plant-filled logo for T magazine's Fall women's style issue. "I wanted to create imaginary flowers that would wrap around the T, re-creating a natural structure," she said of the design. [The Moment]
- Calvin Klein's ex-boyfriend Nick Gruber is working on a tell-all book about his two-year relationship with the designer. "This is the only way he can get closure," said a writer working with Gruber on the project. "He has a lot of secrets about Calvin, and he has the right to tell people." [New York Daily News]
- Giles Deacon, Richard Nicoll, Michael van der Ham, Lulu Guinness, and a group of other British designers will create tributes to Minnie Mouse that will be displayed during London Fashion Week. [Vogue UK]
- Hearst Tower has bathed its lobby in pink light this week to commemorate the passing of legendary Cosmpolitan editor Helen Gurley Brown, who loved the color so much that the wallpaper in her office was bright pink. [Page Six]
- Prabal Gurung takes stealthy photos of fashionable women who inspire him with his iPhone — and he doesn't ask their permission. "I don't like to bother people," he says. [The Cut]
- Vogue intern Sean Avery says he's "on a big Givenchy run right now," but he gets "weird about actually wearing it because I love the pieces so much." [Refinery29]


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Electric DeLoreans and ‘smart’ solar panels: technologies for the future
Range of new sustainable green technologies on view at SEAI energy show in Dublin
Jim Gannon, SEAI and Paul O’Donnell of Unipipe and the Solar Smart Flower at the Energy Show in the RDS, Dublin. Photograph: Alan Betson
The Smart Flower was turning a lot of heads at the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland exhibition on Wednesday. Billed as the world’s first self-contained solar PV (photovoltaics) system, the device is a collection of solar panels that fold out to resemble the petals of a flower.
It can be installed in a garden – if it is big enough – after which it will feed electricity into a home through nothing more complex than an electric cable. It tracks the sun for maximum efficiency and is, the sellers say, ideal for retrofits because it is a standalone set-up.
Paul O’Donnell, who has been installing underfloor heating systems and heat pumps in the Republic since the 1980s, came across the flower at a trade show in Italy and was smitten. My wife said she wanted an ornament for the garden so I got her one of these,” he said.
It will generate enough electricity to meet all the needs of an average European house and comes at a cost of around €19,000 which includes delivery and installation, he says.
“To be honest, I am quite new to it and they are quite new too,” Mr O’Donnell said.
“I have only sold two so far, and there have been maybe 2,000 sold all over the world. A lot of homeowners look at them on the site and think they are going to be the size of an umbrella. Then they see a person standing beside them and they realise just how big they are. Put in the right place, it is a good calling card for a business and a lot of businesses use it to advertise their green credentials,” he said.
Harry Ritchie from Queen’s University Belfast brought his DeLorean car to the show and parked it beside two shiny new Tesla electric cars. The car, which was made in Belfast in the 1980s and made famous in the Back to the Future movies, was given a makeover by a team of electrical engineers in the university. Out went the petrol engine and in went a huge electric motor in the boot.
Everything else about the car and its interior is exactly as it was when it rolled off the production line more than 40 years ago.
“The old DeLorean was a very heavy car and could only do around 70mph,” Mr Ritchie said.” I took this to a racetrack in Down last week and I was doing 100mph so on that level, at any rate, it is better.”
The re-imagined car of the future has a range of only 120km compared with the Tesla’s 400km.
“It is a very heavy car and if you were starting from scratch you would not design an electric car this way. If you were starting from scratch you would do what Tesla are doing,” he said nodding over at his rivals.
“I drove one of them [a Tesla] last week. I was up to about 130 miles an hour on the straight. You wouldn’t even know it was moving. It was that silent.
While Teslas are undoubtedly going to be part of the automotive world’s future Mr Ritchie’s DeLorean is likely to see out its days travelling from school to school to show the next generation what can be achieved by a clever engineer with a bit of imagination.


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Software developer MicroStrategy (MSTR) purchased nearly $150 million worth of bitcoin (BTC) between Aug.1 and Sept.24, it said in a Monday regulatory filing.
"MicroStrategy, together with its subsidiaries, acquired approximately 5,445 bitcoins for approximately $147.3 million in cash, at an average price of approximately $27,053 per bitcoin, inclusive of fees and expenses," the company said in the filing.
MicroStrategy now holds approximately 158,245 BTC, which were acquired at an aggregate purchase price of approximately $4.68 billion at an average purchase price of roughly $29,582 per bitcoin.
The company said it had issued and sold a total of 403,362 MSTR shares to fund the purchase. In August, MicroStrategy said it may raise up to $750 million by selling more stock, and plans to use some of the proceeds to buy more bitcoin.


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Communications brand IVVO, which is strengthening its hold in India, has introduced its ‘Eco Series’. All phones in this series have been priced under Rs 669 and the initial price is 569 rupees. Ivvo is the subsidiary of Britzo.
Under the Eco Series Ivvo IV 1801, Ivvo IV 1805S, and IVVO Eco Britzo feature phone introduced in the market. All feature phones will have 201 days of replacement guarantee and 455 days warranty.
Apart from this, all three devices include 1000 mAh battery, MP3 and MP4 player, LED flashlight, Bluetooth support, dual sim support, one-touch music access, 1.8-inch screen, GPRS web browser, wireless FM, megapixel camera and up to 32GB Expandable storage is provided. The Ivvo IV 1805S includes self-camera and vibration mode.
During the launch of the three phones, Britzo CEO and co-founder Pradipto Ganguly said, “This Eco series is a fair mix of strengths, cost-effectiveness, which will soon be going to redefine the mobile phone experience of ‘real India’.


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The End Of Trends: If It's Hot, It's Over
Everywhere you turn, people are talking about trends. On a CNN news show, a Chyron runs in the corner of the screen pointing out stories that are "trending now." The home pages of Yahoo and AOL also feature Trending Now sections. Google Trends pays scary attention to popular searches
The White House tends toward trends. "Last month, our economy added more than 100,000 private sector jobs and the unemployment rate fell sharply," President Obama said in January. "The trend is clear." And the White House website is tricked out with trendy phrases, such as "jobs trends," "employment trends," "the trend on earmarks" and "a troubling trend in food safety."
Online and offline there's a tremendous amount of trend, friend, including Truck Trend, TrendHunter, Trendideas, Teen Trend, Asia Trend, Florida Trend, Georgia Trend, Trendland, NewTrendMag, Sportrends and various Trend e-publications on college campuses.
The Trend — its spotting, its tracking, its examination — has become omnipresent in contemporary culture. And if there is one thing that watching trends has taught us, it's that at precisely the point at which something becomes ubiquitous, that something is no longer a trend.
Trends In History
First, a definition: A trend is a prevailing tendency that is gradually gaining momentum and might have long-term implications. It's different from a fad, which is a short-term burst of interest or way of being.
The fact that more people are working from home is a trend. That many of them wear Snuggies all day long is a fad. So many of the "trending now" items on the search engines' lists are really fads, not trends.
Trends exist "because they satisfy some very basic needs in all of us: the need for communicating social identity and the collective need for making sense of the world," says Maria Mackinney-Valentin, a fashion and trend scholar at the Danish Design School in Copenhagen.
"Trends are born, grow, mature, reach old age and die ... an organic life cycle, and each trend is different," says Gerald Celente, founder of the Trends Research Institute. Celente's organization follows trends in everything: gold, religion, coffee, alcohol, travel, clean foods, colors, you name it.
"Wouldn't it be better to see what lies ahead rather than stumble blindly into the future?" Celente asks. "No one can predict the future, but you can have a good idea of what lies ahead."
He points to several financial trends, for instance.
"If you could have anticipated the real estate bubble," he asks, "would you have avoided buying into it? If you had read in 2007 that there would be a 'Panic of '08,' would you have left your money in the stock market and 401(k)? If you were an entrepreneur, and were told that bottled water, gourmet coffee and organic foods would be megatrends before they were, would you have considered them as profit opportunities?"
Spotting Waves Of Behavior
We have always had trends — in fashion and politics, in food and travel, in nearly all human pursuits. Traditionally, though, identifying those trends or movements was predominately the purview of historians. With the benefit of hindsight, pinpointing romanticism in music or neoclassicism in art is easy. In the 17th century, most of the so-called metaphysical poets were not even aware of each other.
Eventually, culture watchers and sociologists began pointing out contemporaneous waves of behavior. In his 1962 book Diffusion of Innovations, sociology professor Everett Rodgers dissected the trajectory of trends and innovations — speaking of early adopters and laggards. By the end of the 20th century, trend spotting and trendsetting were marketable skills.
Between 1960 and 2000, the appearance of the word "trendsetter" increased in books nearly 500 percent, according to Google. In 1997, The New Yorker did a profile of trendsetters. The PBS documentary show Frontline aired The Merchants of Cool, which looked at how marketing wizards created trends in young people.
All of a sudden, trends and trend trackers were everywhere. The New York Times took note in a 2006 story. "Trends are the new trend," Reinier Evers, founder of the Dutch company TrendWatching, told The Times. Evers made his mark in the trend-spotting world for naming widespread movements such as "Tryvertising," "Life Caching" and "Youniversal Branding."
How Adoption Speed Affects the Abandonment of Cultural Tastes, a 2009 study conducted by marketing professor Jonah Berger of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business and others, and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests that "cultural tastes that have been adopted quickly die faster."
People look at trends with a jaundiced eye, the report states, so they "avoid identity-relevant items with sharply increasing popularity because they believe that they will be short lived."
Has anything in our culture risen more swiftly than trend spotting?
The fashion industry is often the first to recognize trends. And it may have been among the first to forecast their end.
In the spring of 2010, Simon Doonan — creative director at Barneys upscale department stores — wrote in the Style pages of The New York Observer that he was not seeing any trends in human wear anymore. "In the old days, style used to be the prerogatives of a small group of people. Now it is a national sport. Ticket sales are exploding. People are pouring into the arena in such vast numbers that none of us can keep track of the rule book. Et voila! Nobody is keeping score. All bets are off. Anything goes."
Doonan's observation, that for decades trends have been set by a few at the top of the pecking order, may explain why there are fewer and fewer trends. Cable television and the Internet have splintered the mass audience that trend establishers and marketers once lorded over.
Fractured Culture: An NPR Series
Today fashion, music, art, literature, politics, economics and just about everything else are going through social upheaval.
The Internet has so fractured us globally that we no longer are looking for mass-culture experiences. So major trends have become splintered mini-trends — which are not really trends at all. Trends only work when there is a growing audience that buys into them. And trends can only reach critical mass if the masses are not too critical.
And with the decline in trends comes a decline in the notion of there being such a thing as pop culture. Marketing companies can no longer take advantage of trends. So maybe the last trend we will see is a trend toward a Trendless World — full of surprise and originality.
The problem might be in the word itself. "I think there are trends in terminology just as there are in everything else," says Mackinney-Valentin. "So the term 'trend' may be going out of fashion, but that does not mean that they are not still here."
The trend of trends is changing, says Berger of the Wharton School. The wealth of data, analysis and commentary now available "means that trends have become a much more studied and talked-about topic, and this itself may affect their life cycles."
When something becomes ubiquitous, it is no longer a trend, Berger says. "But it is also the case," he says, "that merely calling something a trend or noting its trendiness may also decrease its allure or hasten its decline."


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Innovation with Fiber
November 14th, 2012
UTOPIA isn’t Google, and Utah isn’t Kansas City, but what is happening in KC provides an instructive lesson on the power of innovation.
As Google starts to connect residential customers to its gigabit fiber network, a funny thing is happening: because the roll-out is residential first, start-ups in the area are renting and buying homes so they can get a gig, too, as Stacey Higginbotham reports for GigaOM. Fiber is bringing together like-minded entrepreneurs, such as the “KC Startup Village.” According to Higginbotham, “this is a loose coalition of startups in the Hanover Heights neighborhood of Kansas City that are either buying or renting homes to take advantage of their awesome broadband connections.”
The Kansas City Star had a similar report (which also references KC Startup Village), beginning its story with this tease: “Mike Demarais, who is 20, arrived from Boston to the Kansas City area’s first ‘fiberhood’ with his MacBook, some clothes and an idea.”
Have laptop, will travel? Is this the new ethos driving innovation and startups? If entrepreneurs are following their dreams to KC because of gigabit fiber, what does that say for locales that don’t have fiber of any sort? Or, in other words, if Google had wired KC with staid, outdated coax, would any of this be happening?
Of course not!
As UTOPIA’s fiber broadband efforts have shown, innovation inspires innovation. There’s no point of doing something revolutionary with un-revolutionary infrastructure. You won’t create any paradigm shifts by looking backwards. People aren’t going to shack up in KC or Reno or Tacoma or Boise for your “average” cable coax connection. People want and need cutting edge technology to foster cutting-edge innovation.
For example, industry analyst Craig Settles recently published a report on broadband and economic impact, querying economic development professionals for their views on broadband. Only 24% of respondents thought broadband at 2Mbps to 50Mbps was good enough to lure business; the remaining 76% said 100Mbps to 1Gbps is needed (32.1% said 100Mbps to 120Mbps). Sixty percent thought 100Mbps to 1Gbps was required to help “local companies grow.”
True, you can get 100Mbps from Comcast, if you want to spend $200 a month. That’s the residential cost. For business, you’ll be looking at $369.95. And, by the way, the upload speed is a paltry 10Mbps. If you work with video or graphics or otherwise have to push a lot of bits around, good luck!
Like Kansas City, Chattanooga has become a hotbed for tech startups because businesses and residents there have access to a gigabit network. The lure is having a test bed where minimum bandwidth threshold has been dramatically increased. The opportunity to find out what is possible on-line when everyone (or at least the majority) has at least a 50/50 connection is fascinating.
To be clear, UTOPIA’s effort is different from Google’s in KC and EPB’s in Chattanooga, but the “network effect” applies to our network just as it does to theirs. That’s why UTOPIA’s fiber network can be a primary factor in bringing businesses to Utah.


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Hero has already been rolling out EVs to India’s roads via the “VIDA V1 scooter,” operating under a new brand name, VIDA; now, Hero’s approved an equity investment of up to US$60 million in Zero.
Zero’s bikes can now utilize Hero’s manufacturing, sourcing, and marketing in India; Zero’s sales will go up, and Hero will be able to lean on Zero’s excellent moto reputation while expanding the duo’s dynasty… and Zero might even share their electric powertrain tech with them.
Win, win, win.
“Our partnership with Zero Motorcycles is a significant milestone in our journey towards ushering in an era of sustainable clean technology in the mobility space,” lauds Dr. Pawan Munjal, the Chairman & CEO of Hero MotoCorp., in Zero’s recent press release.
“With Zero as our partner, we look forward to [accelerating] the transition of electric mobility in India and across our global markets.”
“We are delighted to have Hero MotoCorp – the world’s largest motorcycle maker – as our partner,” agrees Sam Paschel, the CEO of Zero Motorcycles.


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Forbes reports, “According to a new report published by Leafly this morning, the CBD market is plagued by inaccuracies, especially when it comes to the amount of this chemical compound present in products sold across the U.S., versus what labels say.”
A few weeks ago, Simms went on her own, to launch BRN Group, a cannabis tech company with specialized focus on distribution and branding. The CEO talked about the company’s mission in an exclusive conversation with Benzinga.
A team of researchers in the United States found a link between long-term use of cannabis and the development of testicular germ cell tumors. Men with long-term cannabis use were 36 percent more likely to develop testicular cancer than those who did not use the drug.


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Literary love on display in London
Camilla stayed for about five minutes and spoke with Hwang Sun-mi, the author of “Leafie, a Hen Into the Wild.” All she knew about Hwang was that she was a writer. Camilla asked what books she had written, and upon learning that Hwang was a children’s book writer, Camilla said that it was important to have children read. When Hwang said that her book has been published in multiple languages, Camilla complemented her success and said she would read it to her grandchildren.
Hwang is the only author that Camilla met at the book fair. Hwang was one of three authors featured as the Author of the Day, with their photos displayed at the entrance.
Camilla’s visit brought relief to the Korean organizers. Many of them were faced with an emotional struggle after seeing reports in Korea that Korean books were sensationally popular in Britain, thanks to the book fair.
“Korean children’s books topping British best-seller chart,” was the title of one article, and a crime novel by another author was also reported to be a best-seller.
It is true that “Leafie, a Hen Into the Wild” has become popular. However, it is certainly not topping the chart. It was the top seller in some bookstores, but they were just local ones. In fact, the children’s book is ranked 90th in overall sales. It is also quite a stretch to say that the Korean crime novel is selling very well.
Though organizers may have felt awkward, they couldn’t openly say that the reports were exaggerated. But the appearance of Camilla brought a new significance. They can now say that Korean books are selling well enough to warrant a visit by a British royal.
There were many moving moments during the London Book Fair, but it was not because of praise from Camilla or British visitors. The most impressive moments came when Korean authors discussed their love of literature. When Lee Seung-wu was asked what he would do if he couldn’t write, he seemed shocked and was speechless for a while. Then he responded: “I’ve never imagined not being able to write. But I can read, right?”
Korean literature has come so far because of sincere and devoted writers. Overly accessorizing Korean literature is a disgrace to them.
*The author is a London correspondent of the JoongAng Ilbo.
BY Ko Jung-ae
JoongAng Ilbo, April 12, Page 30


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Graham Macdonald will step down as CEO of Caterham Cars at the start of next month after ten years in the post, it has been has announced.
Macdonald joined Caterham in 2007 and spent five years as chief financial officer before taking over as CEO in 2012.
During that period, he steered the business through a difficult period before securing long-term security by overseeing the acquisition by VT Holdings.
Among his biggest challenges was seeing Caterham pull out of F1 and the Caterham/Renault Alpine JV programme.
He will leave the business with a healthy forward order book of almost 12 months.
His replacement has been confirmed as Bob Laishley, currently the firm’s chief strategy officer, who becomes Caterham’s first appointment under the ownership of VT Holdings.
Laishley, the former Nissan global sportscar programme director, is an engineer by trade, and brings a proven track-record in developing and delivering innovative new products
During his 25 year tenure at Nissan, he held various roles for the brand, including programme director for its OEM collaborations and sports car divisions.
Laishley said: ‘I would like to thank Graham, on behalf of everyone at Caterham, for his work over the last 15 years.
‘He leaves the business in a strong position following our best ever sales year in 2021 and demand for the Seven at an all-time high.’
Macdonald added: ‘I would like to take this opportunity to thank the customers, staff, dealers, shareholders and suppliers for their support throughout my time at Caterham.
‘After 15 years at Caterham, 10 in the role of CEO, it feels like the right time step away and retire.
‘There’s been some massive highs and big challenges along the way, but I can honestly say I’ve relished every bit of my time at Caterham.
‘I’m proud to be leaving the business with a healthy order book and wish Bob and the business all the success in the future.’
You can see his full interview below:


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Premiere blockchain gaming platform Mythical Games, along with Krafton, Ubisoft, FaZe Clan, Animoca Brands, among others, collaborate to give gamers a seat at the table
LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Mythos Foundation has been established to manage the day-to-day operations of the Mythos blockchain gaming ecosystem decentralized autonomous organization (DAO). With support from industry leaders in web3 gaming, the goal of the Mythos Foundation is to reduce barriers-to-entry for innovative game developers wanting to build thriving play-and-own game economies. The Mythos Foundation also aims to democratize games and allow for players and creators to participate in game value chains through the Mythos ecosystem, which is grounded in the support of multiple blockchains, unified marketplaces, decentralized financial systems and decentralized governance mechanisms.
The Mythos Foundation is initially focused on five key areas of development:
- Cross-chain infrastructure and NFT transport
- The evolution of NFTs and game economies for game developers and publishers
- Integration and support for gaming guilds and guild communities
- The growth of traditional esports participation in web3
- Collaborating with traditional gaming platforms to craft new policies that support the next generation of games and gamers
Mythos is also announcing the Mythos token (MYTH), an ERC-20 mainnet token with a fixed supply of 1 billion tokens, that will provide web3 game utility and facilitate ecosystem governance, giving gamers, developers, publishers, and content creators the opportunity to participate and contribute to a truly decentralized ecosystem. Mythical Games is the first to adopt MYTH as its native utility token on the Mythical Chain and will use the token on its Mythical Marketplace.
The Mythos Foundation has recruited an initial group of ecosystem partners who will help move standards forward and work collaboratively on the development of a fully decentralized NFT Transport Protocol connecting the best in the games industry with the best blockchain / web3 projects and initiatives. The initial Mythos ecosystem partners include:
- Game Developers & Publishers: Krafton, Ubisoft, Marblex (Netmarble), Com2uS, CM Games, Post Voyager (Cocone), Kakao Games, PerBlue, Third Kind Games, Wemade
- Esports & Guilds: FaZe Clan, Gen.G, Sandbox Gaming, Yield Guild Games, Talon, EVOS
- Web3 & Metaverse: Animoca Brands, Hadean, Klaytn, LINE Blockchain, Oasys
These partners will be eligible to serve a one-year term on one of the three separate subcommittees once elected through the Mythos DAO by MYTH token holders.
“Mythical has always been a gamer-first platform, and today’s announcement signals our commitment to ensuring our community has increased ownership over their gaming experience,” said John Linden, CEO of Mythical Games. “MYTH token holders will be the driving force as we, in collaboration with the Mythos Foundation and other industry partners, continue to revolutionize and democratize gaming in order to give everyone a seat at the table. This initial group of partners is one of the largest gaming alliances ever announced and will help transform all aspects of gaming in web3. We are proud to be amongst this amazing group of partners.”
“Video games have always been fueled by their community, but gamers have often missed out on the opportunity to have a voice and a direct impact to their gaming experience,” said Pete Hawley, Chief Product Officer of 100 Thieves. “We are supportive of any efforts to allow the community to be a bigger part of the gaming experience. Mythos also helps gaming companies interested in web3, but not yet pursuing web3, to understand these new solutions and standards and how they can impact games and game communities in the future.”
The Mythos Foundation is also announcing an initial group of advisors from the blockchain, gaming, and entertainment industries. The initial set of advisors includes:
- Rehito Hatoyama – Former COO of Sanrio
- Yat Siu – Chairman of Animoca Brands
- Pete Hawley – Chief Product Officer of 100 Thieves
- Jaci Hays – Chief Corporate Alliance Officer of FaZe Clan
- Alex Pall and Drew Taggart – The Chainsmokers & MANTIS VC
- Ryan Tedder – OneRepublic
- Lesley Silverman – Head of Web3 at UTA
- Adam Bain – Partner at 01 Advisors, Former COO of Twitter
- Ryan Wyatt – President of Polygon Studios
- Matthew Rutler – Executive Vice President, Talent & Business Development of Masterclass
- Alex Scheiner – Partner at Redbird Capital, Former President of the Cleveland Browns and COO of the Dallas Cowboys
- Kent Wakeford – Co-Founder Gen.G Esports, Co-Founder Rally Network, Former COO of Kabam
For more information, visit mythos.foundation.
About the Mythos Foundation
The Mythos Foundation supports the Mythos DAO (decentralized autonomous organization), created to simplify, standardize, and accelerate decentralized economies within traditional and web3 games and metaverse ecosystems. The Foundation aims to democratize game economies and allow gamers, publishers, and developers to participate in a decentralized game ecosystem. Supported by ecosystem partners across the game development, publishing, esports, and web3 industries, the Foundation is grounded in the support of multi-chain ecosystems, unified marketplaces, decentralized financial systems, decentralized governance mechanisms, and multi-token economies. For more information, visit mythos.foundation.
About Mythical Games
Acknowledged by Forbes’ Disruptive Technology Companies To Watch in 2019 and Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas 2021, Mythical is a next-generation games technology company creating a web3 gaming ecosystem by leveraging blockchain technology and playable NFTs for tools that enable players, creators, artists, brands and game developers to become stakeholders and owners in new “play and own” game economies.
Led by gaming industry veterans, the team specializes in building games around player-owned economies and has helped develop major franchises including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Guitar Hero, DJ Hero, Marvel Strike Force and Skylanders.
Mythical Platform protects gamers that may be new to blockchain through a custodial wallet for their digital items, while allowing advanced players the freedom to link their own wallets via bridges between the Mythical Chain and public mainnets. With its “gamers-first” focus, the Mythical Platform ensures players don’t need to dive into the intricacies of blockchain to enjoy ownership of their digital collections and have a great game experience.


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The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) quietly issued an advisory earlier this month clarifying rules around mailing cannabis preparations, saying that “some CBD products derived from industrial hemp can be mailable under specific conditions.”
For now, the current advisory, which was first reported by the marijuana law blog Kight On Cannabis, stipulates that it is legal to mail hemp-derived CBD products in compliance with research-focused provisions of the earlier 2014 version of the federal agriculture legislation.
However, postal customers must first take certain steps such as providing a signed self-certification statement and documentation confirming the hemp producer is licensed through a state agriculture department.
“The Postal Service has received an increasing number of requests to transport CBD oil and products containing CBD in Postal Service networks,” Travis D. Hayes III, a USPS business program specialist wrote in the March 4 advisory.
“Postal employees should be aware that the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 was recently signed into law,” the memo says. “This legislation removes industrial hemp from regulation under the Controlled Substances Act.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is in charge of creating and implementing general regulations for hemp—instead of the Justice Department, which formerly oversaw enforcement against the crop—but it’s not clear when those rules will be formalized. Lawmakers and stakeholders have pressured the department to get the ball rolling, and it held a listening session last week to gather input from states and other interested parties.
But Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has tried to temper expectations, emphasizing the need to “proceed slowly” given the crop’s complexity and saying that USDA plans to have its regulations ready for the 2020 growing season.
While the USPS said that it issued the advisory because it was receiving an influx of inquiries about the rules governing mailing CBD, Kight On Cannabis suggested that it was prepared as a response to a legal dispute from last year surrounding the postal service’s seizure last year of hemp-derived CBD products that had been lawfully mailed.
USPS CBD Hemp Clarification by on Scribd
Read more from the source: MarijuanaMoment.net
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia/Kevin Payravi


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stefanovi - Fotolia
When SAP unveiled its Hana in-memory database in 2010, Hasso Plattner, co-founder of the German software giant, envisioned all operational data in SAP enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to be held in the flagship database.
And by storing data on faster, albeit more expensive, memory chips rather than disk-based storage, Hana would serve as the backbone for enterprises to run real-time data analytics and, more recently, artificial intelligence-infused applications for quicker decision-making.
SAP claims to have sold more than 50,000 Hana licences to businesses, including Asia-Pacific organisations such as Asahi Beverage, which has been keeping its stores stocked with the right assortment of beverage products and responding more quickly to market trends.
Asahi’s use of Hana has also made sales and operations data more accessible within seconds of it being generated, strengthening Asahi’s relationships with retailers and consumers.
Steve van Wyk, senior vice-president for platform and technologies at SAP Asia, declined to reveal the size of Hana’s customer base in Asia, noting that it contributes a significant portion of SAP’s business in the region.
“Ultimately, every conversation we have with a customer has to start with the platform,” van Wyk told Computer Weekly, referring to the SAP Digital Platform, which is underpinned by Hana and delivers data management, intelligence, analytics and application services capabilities.
“That’s because you can’t innovate on silos of technology – you’ve got to have a data management strategy, and you need to have the foundation and platform,” he said.
Today, Hana is top of the agenda at the highest levels of SAP’s leadership, with every innovation and business conversation being buttressed by the database. But many of these conversations have been about managing and harnessing data held in SAP ERP systems.
That changed at SAP Sapphire 2019. Pointing to the global data volume. which grew from 2,000 exabytes in 2010 to 40,000 exabytes today, of which just 0.07 exabytes are used in SAP applications before data compression, Plattner declared SAP’s plans to extend Hana’s reach beyond its own applications.
“We have to digest much more data inside a Hana system if Hana is to become a database outside the ERP space,” he said, adding that SAP has embarked on a development path to ensure Hana can address the challenges associated with the growing heaps of data. “Hana is too good a database to lock inside SAP enterprise applications.”
Read more about databases in APAC
- Oracle’s autonomous database could leave database administrators unemployed, but that has not stopped a Thai payment services provider from jumping onto the bandwagon.
- Huawei is using reinforcement learning to deliver self-tuning and self-healing capabilities for the latest iteration of its GaussDB database.
- Cloud data warehouse supplier Snowflake has nabbed several Australian customers and is looking at delivering its software via the Azure cloud service next year.
- MongoDB’s switch to server-side licensing may have backfired, as AWS launches an API-compatible version.
To support more and new types of data being generated by new cloud services and devices in the internet of things, SAP has introduced Hana Cloud Services, a cloud-based data fabric and gateway that it claims will provide access to any data.
More than just a data virtualisation layer, Hana Cloud Services also speeds up database queries by caching data as it is being accessed. On top of that, there are native storage extensions, a data catalogue and a data lake based on SAP IQ, along with a single set of application programming interfaces.
Van Wyk said Hana Cloud Services will broaden access to the in-memory database at a lower cost, noting that businesses can pay for the amount of data they are accessing, or the length of time they are connected to the data.
“For example, if you have a development project and you need additional development but don’t have the space to do it on site, you can do it on the cloud service,” he said. “Once you’ve used it, you can transfer the data and log off.
“We’re now making Hana available to customers without getting into a contractual obligation over an extended period of time. That lends itself to the innovation discussion for customers who are looking for flexibility, agility and affordability.”
Nigel Lim, a regional IT manager who works at a company that runs SAP software, told Computer Weekly that although he welcomes SAP’s move to make Hana more accessible, at the end of the day it will boil down to cost.
“The benefits of Hana Cloud Services are clear, but it should not cost a lot more than what we are currently paying for,” he said.


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TOKYO -- Japanese cosmetics maker Shiseido will release its high-end Nars brand in China to attract new customers as the country's income levels rise.
Nars, founded by makeup artist Francois Nars, became a Shiseido subsidiary in 2000. The brand mainly sells in department stores throughout roughly 30 countries and territories including the Americas, Europe, Japan and Southeast Asia. Nars also is sold in Hong Kong, its only market in China.
Shiseido will begin online sales through WeShop, a popular Chinese e-commerce site, at the end of August and plans to launch a Nars store in Shanghai's Raffles City shopping center in September.
The upmarket brand will sell foundation, lipstick, eyeliner and other products for around 350 yuan ($52).
Shiseido also markets luxury cosmetics from its eponymous brand as well as Ipsa, Cle de Peau Beaute and other labels, but these products are focused on skin care. The company thinks the colorful pallet of Nars can attract millennial consumers who value unique products.
The popularity of makeup and perfume in China is climbing along with income levels. Shiseido also is considering a release of Dolce & Gabbana makeup and perfume in China after acquiring production and sales rights last year.
Shiseido's Chinese operations logged 120.5 billion yen ($1.09 billion) in sales for the year ended in December, advancing 11.4% on a local currency basis. By brand, sales still depended heavily on Aupres, but pricier labels such as Cle de Peau Beaute saw growth. The Chinese unit turned an operating profit of 4.2 billion yen after a 500 million yen operating loss the previous year.
For 2017, Shiseido predicts Chinese sales will improve 14% on a local currency basis thanks to momentum from the Nars launch.


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COVID-19 is having an impact on a variety of industries including the dairy industry.Click here to see more...
The dairy industry is dealing with an oversupply issue after restaurants, hotels, schools, and university’s shut down dine-in meal service.
Gert Schrijver has Marsfield Holsteins at Stettler and is the Alberta Director with Dairy Farmers of Canada.
He says with the shutdown dairy producers have been dealing with an oversupply of milk that would normally be consumed and are dumping it according to the environment and government regulations.
‘’We are working hard as an industry with processors and retail to solve the issues right now. We are committed to our products, the nutrients levels and the sustainability of our industry. We will make it work and it will become better in the future again, for sure. Dumping is a short term solution, and we're (DFOC) working on common rules to prevent it down the road in the next few weeks.’’
He notes, usually 25% or 30% of the dairy products go into hotels and restaurants and then the distribution chain dried up.
‘’So, now all that product has to go to the retail store, it needs some adjustments at the retail and distribution level. We've been (dairy producers) donating lots of products to the food bank to help the community.’’
Dairy cows produce a certain amount of milk each day and need to be milked on a regular basis in order for the animals to be comfortable and healthy.
Blaine McLeod is a dairy producer at Caronport and is the Saskatchewan Director with Dairy Farmers of Canada.
He says the dairy industry is helping supply food banks, soup kitchens, etc, but they can only take so much; noting that dumping the oversupply of milk is a short-term solution for now.
McLeod says while he doesn’t have specific numbers on what’s being dumped it’s in the single digits in terms of oversupply, probably less than 5% is surplus, but that's a lot of milk.
‘’ We are the first people as dairy farmers to cry over spilled milk, it breaks our heart to see that kind of thing happening. Because we put tons of effort into the care and humane treatment of our cattle and making sure their needs are met and having them produce to the maximum or their capacity. Then to say, as an industry, we've got more milk than we can use, and we have to dump it.’’
McLeod says the industry is looking at options to slow production but that will take time.
‘’You can't just put a cow on a shelf and then take her off when you need the milk again, that just doesn't work that way. To have the supply in terms of food security, there really is only one option for us right now; and that's to actually take and dump the milk where it's not being able to be used.’’
He notes producers will be evaluating their herd keeping in mind that they’ll need to be able to ramp production up again down the road.
‘’So, people will be prematurely drying up cows, that kind of thing. Just to slow the milk supply down as much as possible. That type of thing will happen and people will be looking very closely at their herds as to which cows they can cull.’’


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Need to Know
- Lululemon will rely on digital sales during the COVID-19 crisis, enters 2020 with over $1 billion in cash to support them
- Last quarter, digital sales contributed 33% of total revenue
- The athletic brand is committed to paying its staff while retail stores are closed.
While the COVID-19 crisis has caused many companies around the world to adjust their business practices, or even close doors altogether, Lululemon is pushing ahead with its growth plan, citing a 41% increase in digital sales last quarter.
In Lululemon’s fourth quarter, which ended February 2, 2020, the athletics retailer closed with a $1.4 billion revenue. “We had fantastic momentum coming into the current situation,” said CEO Calvin McDonald. “And there is nothing that I believe will fundamentally change our ability to regain that momentum.”
In February 2020, Lululemon temporarily closed all of its stores in Mainland China. All but one has since reopened. Today, all of their retail locations in North America, Europe, Malaysia, New Zealand remain temporarily closed, meaning the brand is highly dependent on digital sales in the coming months.
Last quarter, e-commerce “contributed approximately $464 million to [the] top line, or 33% of total revenue”, said Lululemon’s CFO PJ Guido in an earnings call.
And though the sales trends have “changed dramatically” worldwide amid the COVID-19 crisis, Guido affirms, “our digital business has remained strong throughout, driven by traffic and improving conversion that is a direct result of the investments we have made in our digital platform.”
The brand is optimistic moving into the 2020 fiscal year in the middle of the global pandemic. Said Guido, “We currently hold over $1 billion of cash on the balance sheet and have no long-term debt. We also have a $400 million revolving credit facility which has 3 years left in maturity.”
Given the uncertainty of the next few months, Lululemon continues to pursue its omnichannel digital marketing strategy. The brand is still investing in social media initiatives and virtual events, like online workouts and mindful writing exercises, with the hopes that continuing to build and support their community will also help grow online sales.
Lululemon joins a number of other retailers pursuing new ways to engage with their community and continue to drive sales.
Under Armour has launched a Healthy at Home fitness challenge for their fans, a part of which means the athletics brand will donate $1 million worth of money and products to support the Good Sports organization and $1 million to Feeding America to help support hunger relief efforts as a result of current school closures and quarantines. Under Armour is offering free shipping and returns on all orders.
Another popular Canadian brand, Aritzia, is also offering free shipping on all orders for the next 30 days. All profits during this time will go to support the company’s staff and their families.
Lululemon is also committed to paying their staff while doors on their stores are closed.
“Although we do not know exactly when the current situation will pass, what we do know is that our stores will reopen,” said McDonald.